From Birmingham to The Daily Show
June 9, 2013 1:35 PM Subscribe
John Oliver, a standup comedian from Birmingham in England, takes over from Jon Stewart as host of the Daily Show for the summer from tomorrow. The Guardian profiles him.
Also in the Los Angeles Times, the Independent, and the New York Times.
- Election Year.
- At The Economist's "World in 2010" Festival.
- On Mitt Romney.
- Perfect Crime.
- An interview at the 2009 Emmys.
- The Decline of the American Empire.
Though more famous as the birthplace of Heavy Metal, Birmingham has produced its fair share of comedians, including Jasper Carrott and Tony Hancock.
Also in the Los Angeles Times, the Independent, and the New York Times.
- Election Year.
- At The Economist's "World in 2010" Festival.
- On Mitt Romney.
- Perfect Crime.
- An interview at the 2009 Emmys.
- The Decline of the American Empire.
Though more famous as the birthplace of Heavy Metal, Birmingham has produced its fair share of comedians, including Jasper Carrott and Tony Hancock.
From the leading article:
He used to think it was "bullshit", he says, when famous people claimed to suffer from imposter syndrome – "But then you experience it, and you realise that it makes much more sense to think, 'This is all going to be discovered as a mistake at any moment, they'll realise they've got the wrong person, and I'll be sent home.' That makes much more sense than that you've actually been given your dream job."
John Oliver is hilarious, terrific and yet very human. It seems almost impossible that this guy, who in The Bugle seems very relateable (they regularly read aloud letters received from listeners), could actually be famous. He does charmingly goofy things like the Pope Song when the new pontiff was chosen. Their "Fuck Eulogies" (when evil despots kick the bucket) are hilarious yet the kind of thing I find it difficult to imagine a typical branding-obsessed celebrity doing. And the reactions to Andy Zaltzman's "pun runs" are... well, you have to feel sorry for the man. Which, by design, is something most celebrities don't want you doing for them, whether seriously or in jest.
What I'm saying is, John Oliver seems like he couldn't care less about being famous, which is kind of why he deserves to be.
posted by JHarris at 1:57 PM on June 9, 2013 [8 favorites]
He used to think it was "bullshit", he says, when famous people claimed to suffer from imposter syndrome – "But then you experience it, and you realise that it makes much more sense to think, 'This is all going to be discovered as a mistake at any moment, they'll realise they've got the wrong person, and I'll be sent home.' That makes much more sense than that you've actually been given your dream job."
John Oliver is hilarious, terrific and yet very human. It seems almost impossible that this guy, who in The Bugle seems very relateable (they regularly read aloud letters received from listeners), could actually be famous. He does charmingly goofy things like the Pope Song when the new pontiff was chosen. Their "Fuck Eulogies" (when evil despots kick the bucket) are hilarious yet the kind of thing I find it difficult to imagine a typical branding-obsessed celebrity doing. And the reactions to Andy Zaltzman's "pun runs" are... well, you have to feel sorry for the man. Which, by design, is something most celebrities don't want you doing for them, whether seriously or in jest.
What I'm saying is, John Oliver seems like he couldn't care less about being famous, which is kind of why he deserves to be.
posted by JHarris at 1:57 PM on June 9, 2013 [8 favorites]
There's also a nice interview with him in Vulture (which, among other topics, delves into the mystery of his unplaceable accent).
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think Jon Stewart underestimates his personal comedic contribution to the Daily Show and as much as John Oliver is a talented comedy guy, it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
posted by three blind mice at 1:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by three blind mice at 1:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I almost bumped into this guy on Broadway. "Hey, that's ______!" He is second only to Colbert in the pose of frightening arrogant certitude.
posted by seemoreglass at 2:02 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by seemoreglass at 2:02 PM on June 9, 2013
three blind mice: I think Jon Stewart underestimates his personal comedic contribution to the Daily Show and as much as John Oliver is a talented comedy guy, it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
I don't know. It can be kind of great to have an outsider perspective. I'm thinking especially of Craig Ferguson.
posted by Didymium at 2:03 PM on June 9, 2013 [20 favorites]
I don't know. It can be kind of great to have an outsider perspective. I'm thinking especially of Craig Ferguson.
posted by Didymium at 2:03 PM on June 9, 2013 [20 favorites]
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
posted by mneekadon at 2:03 PM on June 9, 2013 [10 favorites]
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
posted by mneekadon at 2:03 PM on June 9, 2013 [10 favorites]
From the article:
Until 2009, when he finally received his green card, Oliver's sense of outsiderhood in New York was not solely a joke: he was obliged to seek the renewal of his visa every year at the American embassy in London, and lived in fear of being turned down. "The worst experience I had was an immigration officer there, an American lady, saying, 'Give me one good reason I should let you back in to insult my country,'" he recalls. "I felt a pulse of ice go through me. Then she said, 'Oh, I'm just kidding, I love the show.'
As should be obvious by now I love John Oliver, but considering some of the times he's played the role of cringe-worthy position-haver in some of those legendary Daily Show interviews with shocked officials, I'm kind of glad it happened to him once. Hee hee!
three blind mice, it can be very helpful to have someone with an outsider's perspective tell you about your country, because fish would find it difficult to describe water to each other.
posted by JHarris at 2:04 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
Until 2009, when he finally received his green card, Oliver's sense of outsiderhood in New York was not solely a joke: he was obliged to seek the renewal of his visa every year at the American embassy in London, and lived in fear of being turned down. "The worst experience I had was an immigration officer there, an American lady, saying, 'Give me one good reason I should let you back in to insult my country,'" he recalls. "I felt a pulse of ice go through me. Then she said, 'Oh, I'm just kidding, I love the show.'
As should be obvious by now I love John Oliver, but considering some of the times he's played the role of cringe-worthy position-haver in some of those legendary Daily Show interviews with shocked officials, I'm kind of glad it happened to him once. Hee hee!
three blind mice, it can be very helpful to have someone with an outsider's perspective tell you about your country, because fish would find it difficult to describe water to each other.
posted by JHarris at 2:04 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
While I see what you mean, bear in mind that much of the comedic potential comes from people who understand American sacred myths without being steeped in them from birth. Since Wyatt Cenac left, is there even a single American correspondent left? Samantha Bee and Jason Jones are Canadians, and Asif Mandvi was born in India and raised in the UK.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:05 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
While I see what you mean, bear in mind that much of the comedic potential comes from people who understand American sacred myths without being steeped in them from birth. Since Wyatt Cenac left, is there even a single American correspondent left? Samantha Bee and Jason Jones are Canadians, and Asif Mandvi was born in India and raised in the UK.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:05 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
Peter Jennings was Canadian.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:07 PM on June 9, 2013 [18 favorites]
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
Peter Jennings was Canadian.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:07 PM on June 9, 2013 [18 favorites]
From the ages of 0 to about 4 I lived across the street from Jasper Carrot, nice bloke apparently.
He (John Oliver) was good on Jeremy Hardy's* New Year Calvalcade as (in his own words) the least well known person on it. [less legal sources are available]
* Warning: Mr Hardy can sometimes be an eensy bit left wing, if you don't like that sort of thing you may want to skip listening.
posted by titus-g at 2:08 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
He (John Oliver) was good on Jeremy Hardy's* New Year Calvalcade as (in his own words) the least well known person on it. [less legal sources are available]
* Warning: Mr Hardy can sometimes be an eensy bit left wing, if you don't like that sort of thing you may want to skip listening.
posted by titus-g at 2:08 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
is there even a single American correspondent left?
Jessica Williams is American, isn't she?
posted by saturday_morning at 2:09 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
Jessica Williams is American, isn't she?
posted by saturday_morning at 2:09 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
posted by mneekadon at 10:03 PM on June 9
The problem with Piers Morgan is not that he's a foreigner. It's that he's Piers Morgan.
posted by Decani at 2:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [29 favorites]
Someone should mention that to Piers Morgan.
posted by mneekadon at 10:03 PM on June 9
The problem with Piers Morgan is not that he's a foreigner. It's that he's Piers Morgan.
posted by Decani at 2:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [29 favorites]
You signed for Piers Morgan and now you have to keep him.
posted by biffa at 2:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by biffa at 2:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [17 favorites]
I still mourn Cenac's departure. GOD Puppet Michael Steele was hilarious.
posted by JHarris at 2:16 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 2:16 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
That Guardian profile was really interesting, thanks for posting this Wordshore. I'm also very curious to see how the Maziar Bahari film turns out.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:21 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:21 PM on June 9, 2013
Warning: Mr Hardy can sometimes be an eensy bit left wingHe infamously refused to use postcodes as it put postal workers out of a job.
posted by fullerine at 2:21 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
The problem with John Oliver is not that he's non-American; it's that he is not as sharply funny and quick-witted as some of the other correspondents. Have you ever seen him (try to) adlib banter with Stewart? It's pathetic. He also doesn't have the killer satiric instinct as the great, great - and, yes, Canadian - Sam Bee and Jason Jones do. The Daily Show overall suffers from the "contributions" of Oliver, and his hosting may just kill the moribund beast outright.
posted by anothermug at 2:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by anothermug at 2:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oliver had never even visited the US when he got the call to audition for The Daily Show – the result, he believes, of a recommendation from Ricky Gervais.
Ricky also championed Louis C.K over here in blighty. He knows his baked beans does the Rickster. Amazing how Oliver has such a low profile over here. He'd probably be fine in the queue at Sainsbury's buying his malt loaf. Though whenever I see him on The Daily Show he proves what a blindin' talent he is. A Brummie too! Get in son.
The above paragraph contains words specifically saved for Brit-related post on the blue.
I am so happy when I see one.
posted by 0 answers at 2:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [19 favorites]
Ricky also championed Louis C.K over here in blighty. He knows his baked beans does the Rickster. Amazing how Oliver has such a low profile over here. He'd probably be fine in the queue at Sainsbury's buying his malt loaf. Though whenever I see him on The Daily Show he proves what a blindin' talent he is. A Brummie too! Get in son.
The above paragraph contains words specifically saved for Brit-related post on the blue.
I am so happy when I see one.
posted by 0 answers at 2:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [19 favorites]
I am imagine the above dialogue delivered by Vinnie Jones as he smashes my head in the door of a car.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 2:28 PM on June 9, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 2:28 PM on June 9, 2013 [7 favorites]
I predict that he'll be much better than John Stewart and will spin off his own show, a la Colbert, focused on world news rather than American politics. Possibly a televised version of the Bugle.
posted by painquale at 2:28 PM on June 9, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by painquale at 2:28 PM on June 9, 2013 [8 favorites]
Oh, I might start watching it again. I fell out of the habit in the last few years but I'll tune in to see Oliver.
posted by octothorpe at 2:32 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by octothorpe at 2:32 PM on June 9, 2013
A Brummie too! Get in son.
Indeed! This made me very happy.
posted by Wordshore at 2:33 PM on June 9, 2013
Indeed! This made me very happy.
posted by Wordshore at 2:33 PM on June 9, 2013
[Jeremy Hardy] infamously refused to use postcodes as it put postal workers out of a job.
Citation for this? Because if he did say it (and I can't find it reported anywhere, so I don't really think it's 'infamous') then it was probably in the context of a joke.
posted by Major Clanger at 2:36 PM on June 9, 2013
Citation for this? Because if he did say it (and I can't find it reported anywhere, so I don't really think it's 'infamous') then it was probably in the context of a joke.
posted by Major Clanger at 2:36 PM on June 9, 2013
I don't know. It can be kind of great to have an outsider perspective. I'm thinking especially of Craig Ferguson.
I understand what you mean but it's worth noting that Craig Ferguson is American.
posted by Justinian at 2:37 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I understand what you mean but it's worth noting that Craig Ferguson is American.
posted by Justinian at 2:37 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The problem with John Oliver is not that he's non-American; it's that he is not as sharply funny and quick-witted as some of the other correspondents.
Disputed.
posted by JHarris at 2:46 PM on June 9, 2013 [14 favorites]
Disputed.
posted by JHarris at 2:46 PM on June 9, 2013 [14 favorites]
I'm really hoping for a surprise appearance by Andy Zaltzman at some point.
posted by Kattullus at 2:54 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 2:54 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
Oliver shines most when he's self-effacing and laughing at the absurdity of the world. That's his default mode on The Bugle, and as JHarris mentions, it lends him a relatable, human quality that is rare in the comedy world.
He can pull off the straight-faced confrontational arrogance bit, as he often does in interviews on The Daily Show, but not with the level of overpowering charm that Colbert can manage (who, to be fair, is Godlike in this regard).
posted by dephlogisticated at 2:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
He can pull off the straight-faced confrontational arrogance bit, as he often does in interviews on The Daily Show, but not with the level of overpowering charm that Colbert can manage (who, to be fair, is Godlike in this regard).
posted by dephlogisticated at 2:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Until 2009, when he finally received his green card, Oliver's sense of outsiderhood in New York was not solely a joke: he was obliged to seek the renewal of his visa every year at the American embassy in London, and lived in fear of being turned down. "The worst experience I had was an immigration officer there, an American lady, saying, 'Give me one good reason I should let you back in to insult my country,'" he recalls. "I felt a pulse of ice go through me. Then she said, 'Oh, I'm just kidding, I love the show.'As should be obvious by now I love John Oliver, but considering some of the times he's played the role of cringe-worthy position-haver in some of those legendary Daily Show interviews with shocked officials, I'm kind of glad it happened to him once. Hee hee! - JHarris
This is obviously tinged by my personal experience, but reading that part of the article made my blood run cold. I sometimes have fantasies about being famous purely to have an easier time traveling to the US, but reading about Oliver's difficulties puts a bit of a dampener on them.
posted by aedison at 3:01 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
Bostin'.
posted by Abiezer at 3:08 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 3:08 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
I've been looking forward to this for months since it was first announced. Oliver might be my favorite correspondent on TDS.
posted by triceryclops at 3:10 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by triceryclops at 3:10 PM on June 9, 2013
You can tell Craig Ferguson is fully American now because he even seems to mispronounce his own first name
posted by dng at 3:24 PM on June 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by dng at 3:24 PM on June 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
i watch quite a few of the british panel shows (8 out of 10 cats, have i got news for you, mock the week, etc) and i love when they touch on american politics. i'm very much looking forward to a british guy holding up the daily show desk. it's just the summer - i bet viewership is down then anyway - the crew gets to keep a job instead of going an extended hiatus. jon stewart gets a break and maybe figures out what his next 10 years look like (he seems restless, but maybe i'm projecting). i think this is basically great all around.
posted by nadawi at 3:46 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 3:46 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
My late night TV habit is to skip everything after the monologue, so I look forward to seeing Oliver in the part of the show I actually enjoy. If it leads to him having a show of his own, which I would surely enjoy the first 10 minutes of regularly, that would be great.
posted by Lorin at 4:16 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by Lorin at 4:16 PM on June 9, 2013
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
An immigrant who combined talent and hard work to make it to the top in New York while meeting and marrying his dream girl, a combat medic, is like the most American thing ever.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on June 9, 2013 [34 favorites]
An immigrant who combined talent and hard work to make it to the top in New York while meeting and marrying his dream girl, a combat medic, is like the most American thing ever.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on June 9, 2013 [34 favorites]
Also a good idea for a rom-com.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
three blind mice: I think Jon Stewart underestimates his personal comedic contribution to the Daily Show and as much as John Oliver is a talented comedy guy, it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.
Couldn't agree more.
While I find Oliver to be pretty funny, I'm going to miss Stewart while he's gone. I tune into The Daily Show for Stewart's monologue and can skip the rest really.
posted by meta87 at 4:38 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Couldn't agree more.
While I find Oliver to be pretty funny, I'm going to miss Stewart while he's gone. I tune into The Daily Show for Stewart's monologue and can skip the rest really.
posted by meta87 at 4:38 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The only thing that's concerning to me is that Oliver's character on the show is very much like Colbert's, except someone's done a find-replace and swapped out every instance of "America" with "England." I don't know if having two shows back to back that both work in the Colbertesque fake asshole register will be the best thing for the franchise. That said, anything is better than Stewart's current "funny accents in place of wit" schtick.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:49 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:49 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Jessica Williams is American, isn't she?
True. I don't see it very often any more and have only seen her pieces two or three times, so I had quite forgotten they were up at five correspondents again.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:04 PM on June 9, 2013
True. I don't see it very often any more and have only seen her pieces two or three times, so I had quite forgotten they were up at five correspondents again.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:04 PM on June 9, 2013
jon stewart gets a break and maybe figures out what his next 10 years look like (he seems restless, but maybe i'm projecting).
Apparently the break is at least partly to make a film about an Iranian journalist that got arrested after being interviewed by Jason Jones on the Daily Show. But I agree that it seems like Jon Stewart is probably not all that long for TDS. Still love him but he definitely seems to lacking in verve recently.
posted by lunasol at 5:09 PM on June 9, 2013
Apparently the break is at least partly to make a film about an Iranian journalist that got arrested after being interviewed by Jason Jones on the Daily Show. But I agree that it seems like Jon Stewart is probably not all that long for TDS. Still love him but he definitely seems to lacking in verve recently.
posted by lunasol at 5:09 PM on June 9, 2013
Stewart Reveals His Summer Movie Project In Heartfelt Goodbye, Hands Show Off To John Oliver
posted by homunculus at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Looking forward to it. Good to see a fellow Midlander do well. 'aright our kid.
posted by arcticseal at 5:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 5:14 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
oh yeah - i know why he's doing it - but he chose the project - chose to not find a way to work it into his hiatus schedule - these choices, i think, show a willingness to step away from the desk
posted by nadawi at 5:17 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by nadawi at 5:17 PM on June 9, 2013
a film about an Iranian journalist that got arrested after being interviewed by Jason Jones on the Daily Show
Seems as good a time as any to mention that June 15 is the 2nd anniversary of Write to Hoder Day.
posted by dhartung at 5:36 PM on June 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
Seems as good a time as any to mention that June 15 is the 2nd anniversary of Write to Hoder Day.
posted by dhartung at 5:36 PM on June 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
I'm a long-time fan of The Bugle, and I would have written fuck eulogy as something like "fuck you-logy," but the Bugle wiki has it as "fuckeulogy."
And then I had to pause and ponder, wait, the wiki might be full of bullshit. I mean, it ought to be, if it's at all in the spirit of The Bugle. Right?
posted by Pronoiac at 5:44 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
And then I had to pause and ponder, wait, the wiki might be full of bullshit. I mean, it ought to be, if it's at all in the spirit of The Bugle. Right?
posted by Pronoiac at 5:44 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
You Can't Tip a Buick: "The only thing that's concerning to me is that Oliver's character on the show is very much like Colbert's, except someone's done a find-replace and swapped out every instance of "America" with "England." "
I think that's terribly wrong. Colbert's teflon obtuse conservative shtick is not at all Oliver's bit.
I don't think he's going to exactly do what Jon Stewart does, but I'm willing to give him a chance and watch to see how he does.
posted by Red Loop at 5:47 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
I think that's terribly wrong. Colbert's teflon obtuse conservative shtick is not at all Oliver's bit.
I don't think he's going to exactly do what Jon Stewart does, but I'm willing to give him a chance and watch to see how he does.
posted by Red Loop at 5:47 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yeah, and just like Colbert's character didn't really crystallize until The Colbert Report, there is sure to be some drift in Oliver's voice, especially if they really are grooming him to take over. There's a big difference between writing for a correspondent and pitching jokes to the boss. OK, so I learned that watching The Larry Sanders Show. That's a documentary, right?
posted by Lorin at 5:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Lorin at 5:59 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
My late night TV habit is to skip everything after the monologue
Stop-when-the-interview-starts, here. (I find Stewart's interviews awfully glad-handy.)
Got to get Andy on, surely? One of the things I like most about The Bugle is the obvious affection they have for each other.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:06 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
Stop-when-the-interview-starts, here. (I find Stewart's interviews awfully glad-handy.)
Got to get Andy on, surely? One of the things I like most about The Bugle is the obvious affection they have for each other.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:06 PM on June 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
"Here it is, your Moment of Zed."
posted by argonauta at 6:11 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 6:11 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
Got to get Andy on, surely? One of the things I like most about The Bugle is the obvious affection they have for each other.
Yeah, they're sweet. They're at their best when they're in the middle of a bit that is truly awful but they keep supporting each other with laughs and jibes.
posted by painquale at 6:18 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yeah, they're sweet. They're at their best when they're in the middle of a bit that is truly awful but they keep supporting each other with laughs and jibes.
posted by painquale at 6:18 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
My favorite part of all of this is that when the news was announced, the Times Online in the UK pegged Oliver as a little-known UK comedian.
This is, mind you, just a few months after the Times had stopped publishing the Oliver/Zaltzman podcast The Bugle, a podcast they had bankrolled for years.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 6:22 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
This is, mind you, just a few months after the Times had stopped publishing the Oliver/Zaltzman podcast The Bugle, a podcast they had bankrolled for years.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 6:22 PM on June 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
As much as I like John Oliver and dislike Bill O'Reilly, I kind of agree with Bill. They should let Aasif Mandvi run the show.
posted by wobh at 6:39 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wobh at 6:39 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Bugle has a wiki? Oh wow, I might have to create an account on there. ♥♥♥
nthing the love for Andy Zaltzman. I joke about his rather extreme fondness for puns sometimes, but the sheer number of them wins the listener over even while making him question his willingness to continue living.
posted by JHarris at 6:48 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
nthing the love for Andy Zaltzman. I joke about his rather extreme fondness for puns sometimes, but the sheer number of them wins the listener over even while making him question his willingness to continue living.
posted by JHarris at 6:48 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The only thing that's concerning to me is that Oliver's character on the show is very much like Colbert's, except someone's done a find-replace and swapped out every instance of "America" with "England."
This is true to varying degrees for all of the Daily Show correspondents. Whenever a piece puts them in dialogue with Jon Stewart, Stewart plays the voice of reason and the correspondent strongly advocates for whatever the crazy government/corporate/whoever line happens to be. They've mixed this up a bit, but it's the default pose. The Bugle probably gives a bit of a better perspective on how Jon Oliver will take up his hosting duties, since it features more straight monologues about how particular government and industry actors are terrible and dumb.
is there even a single American correspondent left?
Jessica Williams is American, isn't she?
See also: Larry Wilmore and Al Madrigal.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:48 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is true to varying degrees for all of the Daily Show correspondents. Whenever a piece puts them in dialogue with Jon Stewart, Stewart plays the voice of reason and the correspondent strongly advocates for whatever the crazy government/corporate/whoever line happens to be. They've mixed this up a bit, but it's the default pose. The Bugle probably gives a bit of a better perspective on how Jon Oliver will take up his hosting duties, since it features more straight monologues about how particular government and industry actors are terrible and dumb.
is there even a single American correspondent left?
Jessica Williams is American, isn't she?
See also: Larry Wilmore and Al Madrigal.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:48 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm going to make a confession here where it isn't going to be attacked or downvoted. I have found for about a year and a half that I have to watch The Colbert Report before I watch The Daily Show. It leaves a much better taste in my mind that way. Increasingly it feels that Colbert is pushing the right wing to be even more crazy, defenestrating the republicans farther rightwards through the Overton window. And honestly, Colbert has been just dreadful towards same-sex marriage...
I really hope Oliver's turn at the desk is a warm-up to his own show. He will be brilliant.
posted by Catblack at 7:12 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I really hope Oliver's turn at the desk is a warm-up to his own show. He will be brilliant.
posted by Catblack at 7:12 PM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I finally watched that Australian gun control series John Oliver did, and it's great. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
As a Bugler, I'm super-excited for John to get the chance at the big chair. His voice on the Bugle is much more in line with hosting than how he does the correspondent positions. And he's just a super nice guy; the obvious affection he shows for Andy and the rest of the greater Bugle community (fuck you, Chris) is palpable. The most recent show makes it clear how much pressure he's feeling, and was worth it for just that.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 7:22 PM on June 9, 2013 [12 favorites]
As a Bugler, I'm super-excited for John to get the chance at the big chair. His voice on the Bugle is much more in line with hosting than how he does the correspondent positions. And he's just a super nice guy; the obvious affection he shows for Andy and the rest of the greater Bugle community (fuck you, Chris) is palpable. The most recent show makes it clear how much pressure he's feeling, and was worth it for just that.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 7:22 PM on June 9, 2013 [12 favorites]
I think he's going to be great. Also I only watch the first part of Jon Stewart, basically to catch up on news events (the next day on Hulu at that) and he's a bit schickty (spelling?).
Also, I think John Oliver is going to bring a bit more of an intellectual approach to the show. He went to Cambridge for christ's sake- how many US stand up comedians graduated from Harvard? So...I don't think we have to worry about 'his wits'.
posted by bquarters at 7:55 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also, I think John Oliver is going to bring a bit more of an intellectual approach to the show. He went to Cambridge for christ's sake- how many US stand up comedians graduated from Harvard? So...I don't think we have to worry about 'his wits'.
posted by bquarters at 7:55 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Oh and I do expect Andy Zaltzman to appear on The Daily Show. John Oliver has MC'ed a show with a few stand-up comics each episode, and Zaltzman appeared there last year.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:00 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Pronoiac at 8:00 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
how many US stand up comedians graduated from Harvard?
Alas, dead, but the great Greg Giraldo did.
posted by anothermug at 8:10 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Alas, dead, but the great Greg Giraldo did.
posted by anothermug at 8:10 PM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oliver is single-handedly responsible for one of the funniest Daily Show segments I can remember -- where he's notable not only for hopelessly cracking up Stewart, but for maintaining a heroically deadpan stare throughout: Britain's Fallen Soldiers
posted by Rhaomi at 8:18 PM on June 9, 2013 [12 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 8:18 PM on June 9, 2013 [12 favorites]
how many US stand up comedians graduated from Harvard?
Alas, dead, but the great Greg Giraldo did.
So did Conan O'Brien and Al Franken, but I'm not sure either ever did stand-up. Mo Rocca also.
posted by painquale at 8:19 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Alas, dead, but the great Greg Giraldo did.
So did Conan O'Brien and Al Franken, but I'm not sure either ever did stand-up. Mo Rocca also.
posted by painquale at 8:19 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
I have zero doubt that John Oliver will be an exemplary host of the Daily Show. Except for the interview. Jon Stewart has proven himself masterful at conducting interviews with even he most difficult and politicized figures in a way that leaves all parties feeling like they've won. I'm not sure this a skill that can be learned on the job so much as it is an innate gift. The only logical solution is to have Oliver do nothing but fluff Hollywood interview for his tenure, or (ideally for everyone) simply interview Andy Zaltzman every night for the entirety of the duration. Pun runs may occur, but that's simply the price we pay for greatness.
posted by Panjandrum at 8:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Panjandrum at 8:26 PM on June 9, 2013 [6 favorites]
Possibly a televised version of the Bugle.
Well, I'm in two minds on this; one of the things that really works for Bugle is that it still has this DIY spirit about it: at one end, it's just two friends who've drifted apart, but catch up weekly on a Skype call enabled by two geeks (Fuck You Chris and the New York dude, whatshisname - Ped?) Might be difficult to convey that in a televised show, where personal relations don't work as well as they do in podcast.
Still, it will be interesting, but only if they do two things: 1) Have interviews with stock characters (The American eg), 2) Get sports into the mix. I've said this before and I'll say this again: Zaltsman needs to do more sports-based humour. He's good at political humour, but he can easily find his oeuvre with sports humour; there aren't as many stand-up acts on sports as there are on politics.
posted by the cydonian at 8:28 PM on June 9, 2013
Well, I'm in two minds on this; one of the things that really works for Bugle is that it still has this DIY spirit about it: at one end, it's just two friends who've drifted apart, but catch up weekly on a Skype call enabled by two geeks (Fuck You Chris and the New York dude, whatshisname - Ped?) Might be difficult to convey that in a televised show, where personal relations don't work as well as they do in podcast.
Still, it will be interesting, but only if they do two things: 1) Have interviews with stock characters (The American eg), 2) Get sports into the mix. I've said this before and I'll say this again: Zaltsman needs to do more sports-based humour. He's good at political humour, but he can easily find his oeuvre with sports humour; there aren't as many stand-up acts on sports as there are on politics.
posted by the cydonian at 8:28 PM on June 9, 2013
I guess Craig Kilborn wasn't returning their calls.
posted by dr_dank at 8:55 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 8:55 PM on June 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
I hope Oliver has the decency to that "say something ironically and then put his hand to his pretend ear piece and listen to the pretend producer tell him that he is wrong" shtick six or seven times a week like Stewart does. Oh, and the "really bad Italian accent, but don't worry the joke is that it's a bad Italian accent", can't go three months without that.
Also, I cannot stand Stewart's interview style, so I guess it just goes to show what pleases some annoys others.
Anyway, I was really glad to see someone else get a shot at the Daily Show for awhile, John Stewart has had a great, great run, but I think the last 3-4 years have been significantly worse, and at this point I tend to watch Colbert first, then check out the Daily Show only if nothing else is going on. This will definitely get me to take another look.
posted by skewed at 10:38 PM on June 9, 2013
Also, I cannot stand Stewart's interview style, so I guess it just goes to show what pleases some annoys others.
Anyway, I was really glad to see someone else get a shot at the Daily Show for awhile, John Stewart has had a great, great run, but I think the last 3-4 years have been significantly worse, and at this point I tend to watch Colbert first, then check out the Daily Show only if nothing else is going on. This will definitely get me to take another look.
posted by skewed at 10:38 PM on June 9, 2013
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie Stewart's making and to seeing what Oliver does with the show. Basically the only possible downside of this is that it might make Oliver too big-time to do any more guest spots in the next season of Community.
posted by NoraReed at 10:54 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by NoraReed at 10:54 PM on June 9, 2013
Basically the only possible downside of this is that it might make Oliver too big-time to do any more guest spots in the next season of Community.
I feel Andy Zaltzman would want me to note that if Oliver gets too big-time, it might also hamper the long-awaited sequel of The Love Guru, not to mention threatening the artistic integrity of The Smurfs 3. He would also want me to make 23 increasingly tenuous and pathetic puns about cricket, but even I have some limits.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 12:01 AM on June 10, 2013 [8 favorites]
I feel Andy Zaltzman would want me to note that if Oliver gets too big-time, it might also hamper the long-awaited sequel of The Love Guru, not to mention threatening the artistic integrity of The Smurfs 3. He would also want me to make 23 increasingly tenuous and pathetic puns about cricket, but even I have some limits.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 12:01 AM on June 10, 2013 [8 favorites]
Zaltsman needs to do more sports-based humour.
To my delight, 7 DaySundaySaturday returnedstarted for the first time ever this past weekend, including Andy's 90 seconds of sport.
posted by dumbland at 12:30 AM on June 10, 2013
To my delight, 7 Day
posted by dumbland at 12:30 AM on June 10, 2013
Long term Bugle fan and I never realised Oliver was from Brirmingham.
Only tangentially related but have been meaning to post this blog somewhere for ages,
101 Things Brum Gave the World
posted by brilliantmistake at 1:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Only tangentially related but have been meaning to post this blog somewhere for ages,
101 Things Brum Gave the World
posted by brilliantmistake at 1:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
If John Oliver doesn't work out, and Comedy Central were willing to shake up the format, I'd totally regularly tune in to watch Paula Poundstone and Mo Rocca shouting at each other about the news.
posted by schmod at 7:01 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by schmod at 7:01 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
too big-time to do any more guest spots in the next season of Community.
As if there is going to be a next season of Community.
I sure hope I am wrong.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 7:50 AM on June 10, 2013
As if there is going to be a next season of Community.
I sure hope I am wrong.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 7:50 AM on June 10, 2013
it seems to me to be a bad idea to have a foreigner headline a programme about American politics.1) Someone has never watched American "soccer". It's a completely different game without someone with a UK-ish accent doing the play by play.
2) Is nobody seeing the ultimate joke here? In that Oliver replaces Stewart, Stewart changes his mind, is given his show back, Oliver is then given the backup slot displacing Colbert, who leaves to do his own show, from Washington DC as a senator from South Carolina.
/Iamnotkiddinghere,IjustmovedtoSC,Iwouldvoteforhim,thiswouldbeawsome.
posted by Blue_Villain at 8:44 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aasif Mandvi is funnier than John Oliver. But I'm sure John Oliver will still do fine.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:58 AM on June 10, 2013
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:58 AM on June 10, 2013
Wait, if he makes the desk a giant 'O', in the same manner that Jon's desk is a J and Steven's desk is a C... how will he get in and out of it?
posted by Blue_Villain at 9:37 AM on June 10, 2013
posted by Blue_Villain at 9:37 AM on June 10, 2013
He also doesn't have the killer satiric instinct as the great, great - and, yes, Canadian - Sam Bee and Jason Jones do
Samantha Bee is great, but I don't know about Jason Jones. His style seems to be to turn the oaf up to 11 and resort to slapstick instead of making clever jokes. Slapstick is great and has its place, but on a fake news show I think you need to be more subtle.
posted by Hoopo at 10:25 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Samantha Bee is great, but I don't know about Jason Jones. His style seems to be to turn the oaf up to 11 and resort to slapstick instead of making clever jokes. Slapstick is great and has its place, but on a fake news show I think you need to be more subtle.
posted by Hoopo at 10:25 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just can't get behind bringing foreigners here to take jobs from Americans.
Canadians are okay, though.
posted by mule98J at 12:29 PM on June 10, 2013
Canadians are okay, though.
posted by mule98J at 12:29 PM on June 10, 2013
John Oliver Kicks Off Daily Show Hosting With NSA: Amish Must Feel ‘Really F*cking Smart Right Now’
posted by homunculus at 8:32 PM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 8:32 PM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
John Oliver Kicks Off Daily Show Hosting With NSA: Amish Must Feel ‘Really F*cking Smart Right Now’
An excellent opening performance, if you ask me.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 9:43 PM on June 10, 2013
An excellent opening performance, if you ask me.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 9:43 PM on June 10, 2013
Here's the link to yesterday's full episode.
posted by Kattullus at 7:02 AM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 7:02 AM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Until I watched last night's show, I had never noticed how muddy Oliver's diction is.
He'll never get his own show the way Colbert did. Colbert was so bright, funny, and blazingly quick I feared Jon would lose his own show to the stand-in.
posted by surplus at 5:07 PM on June 11, 2013
He'll never get his own show the way Colbert did. Colbert was so bright, funny, and blazingly quick I feared Jon would lose his own show to the stand-in.
posted by surplus at 5:07 PM on June 11, 2013
Thanks for the link Kattullus, I thought he did well on the NSA story.
posted by meta87 at 7:08 PM on June 11, 2013
posted by meta87 at 7:08 PM on June 11, 2013
Iran's Jon Stewart Serves Up Illegal Political Satire: The tragic comedy of the upcoming presidential election, as told by Kambiz Hosseini
posted by homunculus at 9:09 PM on June 11, 2013
posted by homunculus at 9:09 PM on June 11, 2013
Salon: John Stewart who? John Oliver’s “Daily Show” is almost too good
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:05 PM on June 14, 2013
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:05 PM on June 14, 2013
Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart defends satire on Egyptian TV show whose host faces charges
Jon Stewart with Bassem Youssef in Egypt
posted by homunculus at 10:37 AM on June 22, 2013
Jon Stewart with Bassem Youssef in Egypt
posted by homunculus at 10:37 AM on June 22, 2013
John Oliver cuts a WWE wrestling promo after being called out on Raw. That was not something I expected to see.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:16 PM on June 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:16 PM on June 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
That WWE promo was great, and one of the first things that I felt was undeniably Oliver, and not something that Stewart or Colbert could have pulled off.
posted by painquale at 12:23 AM on June 24, 2013
posted by painquale at 12:23 AM on June 24, 2013
I guess it's a shame to mention Stewart did it first. (Gay bullying issue instead of immigration issues)
posted by Drinky Die at 12:40 AM on June 24, 2013
posted by Drinky Die at 12:40 AM on June 24, 2013
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posted by JHarris at 1:37 PM on June 9, 2013 [35 favorites]